front jacking point?

[princeperch]

I'm going to have a bosh at changing the engine oil in my motor in a week or so when I have some time off, together with changing the front brake pads.

I have treated myself to a new 2 tonne hydraulic jack, stands and chocs but before I have a crack at it - where is the best jacking point at the front of the car, to do this and get the required height?

I assume from having a look that the rear jacking point is the diff housing thing, but what is the case for the front?

Can't check in the car's literature as it's all at my parents house 100 miles away...

Secondly when draining the oil, what's the best container type thing to use to drain it off? I don't really want to buy anything for it if poss, so suggestions of suitable household items would be helpful...

Ta

[Munter]

princeperch said:

Secondly when draining the oil, what's the best container type thing to use to drain it off? I don't really want to buy anything for it if poss, so suggestions of suitable household items would be helpful...

A washingup bowl is what I used....Brand new it was... Ummm best to check with the Mrs before using it...

edit:Rod's manual suggests using the "cross member behind the engine" as a jacking point at the front.

Edited by Munter on Sunday 6th July 17:34

[princeperch]

Munter said:

princeperch said:

Secondly when draining the oil, what's the best container type thing to use to drain it off? I don't really want to buy anything for it if poss, so suggestions of suitable household items would be helpful...

A washingup bowl is what I used....Brand new it was... Ummm best to check with the Mrs before using it...

edit:Rod's manual suggests using the "cross member behind the engine" as a jacking point at the front.

Edited by Munter on Sunday 6th July 17:34

ta for that. That must be quite far from the front of the car, christ knows if it'll give me enough leverage to allow me to fit my beer belly under the engine bay to make sure it's in the right place, the jack's a 2 tonner, but still quite diddy..

[Munter]

When you jack it up you are planning on putting axel stands under the jack points in the sills right?

Or I understand the better option would be some ramps for the fronts. No chance of it falling them.

How you then level it off I'm not sure, but I figure ramps under the fronts, then jack the rear using the diff, and put the axel stands under the rear sill jack points.

Note I've never done this.

[princeperch]

Munter said:

When you jack it up you are planning on putting axel stands under the jack points in the sills right?

Or I understand the better option would be some ramps for the fronts. No chance of it falling them.

How you then level it off I'm not sure, but I figure ramps under the fronts, then jack the rear using the diff, and put the axel stands under the rear sill jack points.

Note I've never done this.

axel stands, yes, got that, the jack and some chocs for £24 today.

It didn't occur to me to jack the front to gain access to the engine bay underneath I have to say, unless i've misunderstood...

[mccrackenj]

Munter said:

When you jack it up you are planning on putting axel stands under the jack points in the sills right?

Or I understand the better option would be some ramps for the fronts. No chance of it falling them.

How you then level it off I'm not sure, but I figure ramps under the fronts, then jack the rear using the diff, and put the axel stands under the rear sill jack points.

Note I've never done this.

Excuse my ignorance - but is using the diff perfectly safe as a jacking point? I mean 'safe' as in not likely to cause damage to the car?

Thanks

John

[Munter]

mccrackenj said:

Excuse my ignorance - but is using the diff perfectly safe as a jacking point? I mean 'safe' as in not likely to cause damage to the car?

Thanks

John

Yep totally. The diff housing even has a flat bottom rather than being round to make it easier. I've used it a few times. As always only do it on the flat and do it with care...

[DennisTheMenace]

Use the cross member at the front under the engine , i have a slight problem now as i cant get a jack under my car jack it up central front and the diff on the rear , use a block of wood between the jack and diff if you want to wont harm it if your carefull.

[skinny]

there's no way i could get anything on the cross member - it's about 2 foot under the car isn't it? plus i have bugger all ground clearance.

use the sill, there are two little notches that show where to jack it up, around the point that the door hinges. however, put some little blocks of wood either side of the lip to take the weight to avoid damaging the lip. don't push the jack further in and use the chassis rail or you'll just bend it.

[princeperch]

Crikey.

So do I use the front or the back jacking points if I want to do an oil change.

This has caused much confusion from a retarded fish here.

ETA: am I actually going to have enough room to squeeze under the car or am I going to have to go on a diet? I wouldn't starve if McDonalds decided to close down for a week..

Edited by princeperch on Tuesday 8th July 10:11

[MX-5 Lazza]

I have a very low jack that is also very long and I still can't get to the front cross-member on my car!
I usually use the front jacking points as suggested by Skinny to get the car up high enough to sit it on axle stands but that means I have to jack one side and then the other. Not a big deal except the jack weight a ton!!! (not literally).
I usually use the ends of the cross-member - at the point where the wishbones are attached for the axle stands rather than the chassis rails.

princeperch said:

ETA: am I actually going to have enough room to squeeze under the car or am I going to have to go on a diet?

As long as you jack it up and put it on axle stands yes.
I always drain the oil with the front jacked up and refill with the car flat.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Tuesday 8th July 10:48

[GHW]

I usually jack against the subframe directly below the lower front wishbone mounts, then stick axle stands under the front subframe mounts just rearwards of there. Jacking/standing on the sills is risking a big dent imho.

[mccrackenj]

Munter said:

mccrackenj said:

Excuse my ignorance - but is using the diff perfectly safe as a jacking point? I mean 'safe' as in not likely to cause damage to the car?

Thanks

John

Yep totally. The diff housing even has a flat bottom rather than being round to make it easier. I've used it a few times. As always only do it on the flat and do it with care...

OK, will use in future. Thanks.

[mccrackenj]

skinny said:

don't push the jack further in and use the chassis rail or you'll just bend it.

Aah .. err . . ummm - well I won't be doing that then. (Well, not AGAIN!)

I assume it's fine to put axle stands under the chassis rails though? Front and back?

[skinny]

personally i wouldn't touch the chassis rails they seem very weak. if i use axle stands i put them under the wishbones or the wishbone mounts.

for the oil change jack up the front nearside, it tilts the car the correct way, you shouldn't have much trouble getting under.

lazza, you have that superlow jack from costco? lifts 3 tonnes and doesn't way much less!!

[MX-5 Lazza]

skinny said:

lazza, you have that superlow jack from costco? lifts 3 tonnes and doesn't way much less!!

That's the one! It's made of 3-4mm steel so it's certainly strong enough and it jacks up really quickly but boy is it heavy!!!

[skinny]

mine's also *really* squeaky which is annoying / embarassing, but it works well - still only just goes under the sills tho!

[speedychrissie]

im surprised people say they cant reach the front jacking point! my £15 basic 2 tonne jack does that easily, although i do need to drive the car onto a couple of 2-3cm thick bits of wood first to get the ground clearance.

i tend to jack it up at the front to empty and then refil it when lowered to make sure i get the level right.

[MX-5 Lazza]

My jack is probably 2 foot long and I still can't get to the front cross-member either from the front or the side. Mk2.5 does have a longer overhang at the front due to the shape of the nose cone.